Prime Minister's XI coach Brad Haddin has backed Lyon to play a huge role in limited overs cricket for Australia and a date with England at Manuka Oval "will only help his cause".

Lyon is Australia's greatest off-spinner of all time and arguably the best tweaker in the country, but limited overs selectors don't seem to see it that way.

The Canberra product has repeatedly been snubbed of international one-day and Twenty20 honours but makes no secret of his desire to be the nation's premier spinner in all three formats.

Now he says it's his job to play so well Australia's selectors can't deny him any longer.

"I haven't broken out in hives yet with the yellow clothes on," Lyon said.

"I definitely want to play every opportunity I get. All three formats is my goal, there's no point hiding behind that. I want to do that, that's part of my personal goal so it's up to me.

"The ball is in my court to be honest, if I go out and perform well and make the selectors make a hard choice. As a professional cricketer that's my job.

"It's not really frustrating, it's great to have the support of so many people around Australia I guess. I'm just really focused on making sure if I'm bowling with pink ball, white ball or red ball, whatever ball it is, that I'm going out there and doing my job for the side.

"I'm really enjoying my cricket, I obviously had an amazing summer in winning the Ashes back, here [Friday] night and then we've got a Shield game, and then eyes are set on South Africa.

"It's going to be an amazing little six months hopefully."

Lyon had the wood on England during the Ashes series, snagging 21 wickets at 29 - more scalps than any English bowler - and figures didn't do him justice.

The 30-year-old says he isn't "worried about trying to prove anything" in his Canberra homecoming, as he returns to the pitch he looked after for four years as a groundsman.

Lyon has played just 13 one-day internationals and one Twenty20 international, and Haddin says a strong showing against England can only boost his chances of increasing those numbers.

Haddin says he initially didn't have Lyon pegged for a captaincy role when they played together but it is deserved recognition for the world class bowler.

"[Playing all three formats] is a great goal to have and I think opportunities like this can only help his cause," Haddin said.

"He's a world class bowler we know now in Test cricket, he has performed well for New South Wales in one-dayers and the Twenty20 format.

"He has an opportunity now to go up against a really good England team that he had a lot of dominance over in the summer to be honest, to see if he can continue that in the white ball.

"What's good for Nathan is he has had an outstanding summer in the Test format, but this is just another opportunity to give him a taste of leadership and to keep progressing in his game.

"He was always keen for knowledge and I think we've seen over the last 12 to 18 months with the Australian team, he is a lot more of a central figure there and has shown a lot more leadership in the way he presents himself."

PRIME MINISTER'S XI

Friday: Prime Minister's XI v England at Manuka Oval, 7:15pm. Curtain-raiser: ACT XI v Hong Kong at Manuka Oval, 2:30pm.

Prime Minister's XI squad: Nathan Lyon - Sydney Sixers ©, Sean Abbott - Sydney Sixers, James Faulkner - Melbourne Stars, Sebastian Gotch - Melbourne Stars, Peter Handscomb - Melbourne Stars, Daniel Hughes - Sydney Sixers, Nic Maddinson - Sydney Sixers, Peter Nevill - Sydney Sixers, Mitchell Swepson - Brisbane Heat, Gurinder Sandhu - Sydney Thunder, Kurtis Patterson - Sydney Thunder, Blake MacDonald - ACT (12th man). Coach: Brad Haddin